HOLYOKE — MGM Resorts International hosted a career workshop for veterans on Wednesday at Holyoke Community College, providing application advice, information about job opportunities and other job search tips relating to current and future MGM sites and other employers.

MGM officials were joined by representatives of CareerPoint, a one-stop career center in Holyoke, and the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, in talking about career preparation as well as MGM’s “Boots to Business” program designed to help employ veterans at various locations nationally and beyond.

MGM is seeking a gaming license from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission under a proposal to build an $800 million casino project in the South End of Springfield.

Approximately 60 veterans attended the breakfast forum and career workshop at the college’s Kittredge Center.

Louis Brault of Chicopee, among the veterans who attended, praised the workshop, saying he was there to gather information for the American Legion Department of Massachusetts, which serves veterans across the state.

MGM is “really reaching out to the community,” Brault said. “I think they did a good job. They broke it down – how to apply for a job, what you need to do to get a job, what they are looking for. A lot is what veterans are – self-discipline, showing up on time.”

Under the “Boots to Business” program, veterans are provided with customized training to help translate their military leadership experience into corporate leadership skills, according to MGM’s summary.

Veterans attending the workshop also received a letter from Brian Tierney, 30, formerly of Westfield, who spoke of getting information from the MGM officials in Springfield about Boots to Business, participating in the program and getting a job at the MGM Grand on Oct. 1.

“I could not be any happier,” said Tierney, reached in Las Vegas by telephone. “It’s been unbelievable. You can be hired in entry level management. You can make as little of it, or as much of it as you want to.”’

Tierney is an assistant executive housekeeper at MGM Grand, overseeing the guest room staff assigned to two floors. Just the two floors are the size of a hotel, he said.

11.13.2013 | HOLYOKE -- Kelley Tucky, MGM Vice President of Public Public Affairs, speaks during the MGM veterans forum and career workshop Wednesday at Holyoke Community College.Photo by Mark M. Murray / The Republican

He hopes to be joined by his family in Las Vegas by the end of the year.

Kelley Tucky, MGM’s vice-president of public affairs, said the greatest way to honor veterans “is through high-quality job opportunities at home.”

“We are here this morning because we hope to soon call Springfield home, and we will need to fill jobs with highly motivated and hard-working people,” Tucky said. “In our experience, veterans possess those distinct qualities.”

David Gadaire, executive director of CareerPoint, said he is optimistic about the future job prospects for veterans in the region.

Gadaire said CareerPoint advises people not to give up when they are looking for work.

“Veterans are uniquely qualified for the highs and lows of a job search,” he said.